Rewilding in Mickleton - how did we do?




Many thanks to those who have responded to the call for photos showing what they have achieved either by planting native wild flowers, or allowing nature to take its course. This unusual weather appears to have made flowering later this year so you may yet find more colour in your patch.  

This is the area planted by the children in the school play area.


Jill emailed to say that the verges outside her house and the 'triangle' nearby (the only public space made available for rewilding) have a lovely range of grasses, vetch, buttercups and there are a few cornflowers coming too. As expected the grasses dominate but the habitat produced is a haven for many pollinators and invertebrates. She writes: 'I am pleased with the positive impact on the environment by creating an insect friendly area. Here's hoping we can have larger areas unmown next year. If we are to plant wildflowers we will need to scarify and remove turf, prior to Autumn seed planting'.


Top left is the reseeded patch in the 3Bs Garden behind the Methodist Church. Lots of colour from Field poppies, Corn Marigold, and Cornflowers (plus a few thistles. The other perennial patch in the 3Bs is dominated by a single species and will need some work clearing it in the Autumn.
Top right is the area left to wild in Alison's garden with plenty of clover and hopefully a lot of bees. 
Lower left is Lorna's daughter's patch outside the house with some attractive Corn Cockle.
Lower right is one of Caroline's two rewilding areas. She writes: 'First one I started just over a year ago, moving ‘weeds’ from mainly the lawn, especially clover and daisies, and then added yellow rattle in October. This has really matured this year and the clover has been fantastic. The yellow rattle is definitely hitting back at the grass and will self seed this year. The second patch was set rather late this spring with the seed mixes available after a very hard mow, on a patch of lawn that does not grow well. It has since had some perennial ‘weed’ enhancement. The annuals are just starting to flower. I also have two pots - again sown a bit late but coming up to flower. Rather excited to have spotted some baby newts in the pond this week'.
Centre photo is a snapshot of a Cornflower in my greenhouse; I grew wildflower seeds in a dozen small pots and planted them out as large 'plugs' in an area which is currently only grass.

An earlier posting commented on the increase in biodiversity resulting from simply leaving an are of the garden to rewild, and/or planting wildflowers. Caroline commented (above) on the appearance of some baby newts. This is an invite for you to send me photos of any new arrivals on your patch: butterflies, bees, beetles, newts, new bird species, hedgehogs and more. These will be published in the next blog; the best photo will receive a complimentary 9"X6" mounted enlargement.

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